Plaiting-machine.



No. 715.469. Patented Dec. 9, I902.

w. .1. man a w. C'RAYNE. PLA'IT'ING MACHINE.

(Applicatioh filed June 18, 1902.

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III/II Patented Dec. 9, I902. W. J.'FINCH 8'. W. CRQYNE. I

Punme MACHINE.

(Application filed June 18, 1902.)

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PLAIHNG MACl-HNE. v

(Application filed June 18, 1902.;

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Wilk'am/ a I UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. FINCH AND W'ILLIAM ORAYNE, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

PLAITING-MACHIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7 15,469, dated December 9, 1902.

Application filed June 18,1902. Serial No. 112,218. (No model.)

that will perform eificient work and by which.

permanent plaits of diifei'ehtividthsand with any width or kind of cloth can be secured;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description, while the novelty thereof will form the basis of the claims succeeding such description; and said invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a sectional end elevation of our improved machine. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view of the machine. is an end elevation, and Fig. 4 afront elevation, of the same, parts being broken away in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a water-holder with parts broken away. Fig.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a presser-bar and its operating-handles. Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views, Fig. 7 showing a supporting bracket 1 or plate, and Fig. 8 a plai-ting-blade and its carrier 1 Like reference-numerals refer to like parts in allthe drawings.

The numerals 2 and 3 indicate side pieces or plates constituting the main framing of the machine and suitably connected at the top. These side pieces terminate at their lower ends in flanges or feet 2 and 3, respectively, adapted to rest upon and to be secured to a suitable foundation, said flanges or feet being perforated at suitable points for the reception of screws or like fastenings, by which the same can be secured in position.

The water holders or tanks 4 and 5 are suitably fastened between the side pieces 2 and 3, and in the present case they are so mounted that they can be moved toward or from each other to adapt the machine to plaits of difierent widths. Said water-holders 4 and 5 may consist of castings having plates, as 4.

and 5', respectively, secured by screws or other fastening means to said castings, upon the outer faces thereof. By providing the plates 4 and 5' of sheet metal the contents of the water-holders may be more readily heated. The water-holders are set in parallelism, and into space or gap between the same the plaited material gravitates and preferably the inner faces of the water-holders are machined in order to present smooth surfaces, so as to not injure the cloth. The ends of the castings of the water-holders at and 5 have channels 6 and 7, respectively, in which the heads of the bolts 8 are disposed, said bolts extending on twardly from said water-holders and passing through perforations in the side pieces or plates 2 and 3, respectively. By loosening the nuts of the bolts 8 the water-holders 4 ando can be moved toward and from each other in order to adjust the same to plaits of difierent sizes, and when the proper adjustment is secured the nuts will be tightened. In practice we employ some suitable form of gage which isplaced between the adjacent faces of the receptacles to secure the necessary adjustment, the said water-holders being brought up to the opposite straight edges of the gage. This gage may be of any ordinary kind, and we do not deem it necessary to show the same, it being understood, of course, that the gagescorrespond to the widths of the plaits to be made.

The water-holders 4 and 5 are provided upon their outer sides with spouts 9 and 10, respectively, by which water or the like can be introduced therein. The two water-holders i and 5 constitute a heating device, the

tacles, so that the flame upon the burner can be applied directly to the plates 4: and 5 in order to eifectually heat the contents of the water-holders. The burner-tubes 11 and 12 may be supplied with any suitable form of gas or vapor.

Standards, as 13 and 14, rise from the tops of the side pieces 2 and 3, respectively, and the ends of the shaft 15 are rotatively sustained by said standards. This shaft carries the rolls 16, which may be of wood, the roll being loose on the shaft and being adapted to be connected thereto by the set-screw 17. One end of the shaft carries a hand-crank 18, by which the same can be rotated. In winding the cloth onto the roll 16 prior to plaiting the same the roll is fixedly connected to the shaft by means of the set-screw 1'7, so that when the hand-crank is rotated rearwardly the cloth will be wound thereon. In plaiting, however, the roll 16 is freed from the shaft 15, so that the roll can rotate around the shaft, the shaft 15, through intermediate connections, serving, as will here inafter appear, to operate the plaiting mechanism. The shaft 15 carries at its ends gears 19 and 20, meshing with corresponding gears 21 and 22, rotative on suitable journals or gudgeons extending outward from the frame of the machine, and the gears 21 and 22 constitute a means for reciprocating the plaiting-blades.

The plaiting-blades are denoted by 23 and 24, and'they extend the complete length of the machine, and they consist of blades having knife-edges which are not sufficiently sharp as to cut the cloth. These blades are secured to the carriers or bars 25 and 26, respectively, the parts being substantially co extensive. In the present case the blades are secured in place by bolts passing through elongated slots in the same and also through perforations in the carriers or bars 25 and 26. By loosening the nuts of the bolts the blades can be adjusted toward or from each other in order to make the plaits of different widths, it being obvious, of course, that the blades are adjusted at the same time that the water-holders 4 and 5 are. The carriers or bars 25 and 26 terminate at their ends in rounded portions 28 and 29, extending through elongated slots in the side pieces 2 and 3, respectively, and into cam grooves or channels 30 and 30 in the inner faces of the gears [21 and 22, respectively. It will be remembered that by turning the handcrank 18 backward when the roll 16 is rigidly secured to the shaft 15 the roll 16 will be rotated with said shaft, so as to wind the cloth thereon. In plaiting, as also previously stated, the set-screw is operated to free the roll from the shaft. On the forward motion of the hand-crank 18 the gears 19 and will be rotated therewith, and being in mesh with the gears 21 and 22 the latter will be operated so as to reciprocate the carriers and 26, and hence the plaiting-blades 23 and 24, by virtue of the cam-grooves and 30 in the lower gears. On the inward or advance movement of the plaiting-blades they are adapted to overlap the space or gap between the water holders 4 and 5. The parts are so organized that when one blade is advanced it is successively raised and lowered, and as it is lowered it folds the material upon the other blade, said other or second blade being then in its extreme advanced position. The second blade is then drawn back and is then advanced, and during its advancing movement is successively raised and lowered, just like the first blade, so as to fold the material on the latter, this operation being repeated as long as the machine is in operation.

We have described a means for reciprocating the carriers 25 and 26, and hence the blades 23 and 24, carried thereby, and will now set forth a convenient means for imparting to the blades the lifting motion or that in a direction transverse to the path of reciprocation.

To the outer faces of the water-holders 4 and 5 we secure the angular plates 32 and 33, respectively, the same extending at right angles from the water-holders and having along their tops the lateral flanges 35 and 35. To flanges 36 and 36 upon the inner ends of the blades 32 and 33, which last mentioned flanges, by the way, constitute a means for securing the blades to the water-holders, we attach in some suitable manner to springs 38 and 39, said springs extending diagonally upward and outward from their respective flanges and the free ends thereof bearing against the under sides of the respective flanges 35 and 35. The outer edges of the springs 38 and 39 have notches 40 and 41, the function of which will be hereinafter set forth.

To the outer sides of the carriers or bars 25 and 26, substantially central thereof, and hence substantiallyin vertical alinement with the flanges 35 and 35, are fastened the projections or arms 42 and 43, to which coilsprings 44 and 45, respectively, are connected, the upper ends of the springs being fitted over hooks upon the upper ends of the posts 46 and 47, which rise from the flanges 35 and 35, respectively, near the outer ends thereof. Upon the projections or arms 42 and 43 are fitted the studs 48 and 49, the same consisting of bolts extending through elongated slots in the cooperating arms 42 and 43. It will be understood, therefore, that the studs or bolts can be adjusted lengthwise of the cooperating projections or arms 42 and 43. When the carriers 25 and 26 are in their outer positions and as they are advanced inward, the studs or bolts 48 and 49 will move therewith, and when the latter come in contact with the springs 38 and 39 they cannot move said spring in view of its disposition, so that they are caused to ride down the inclined springs, the latter thereby tilting the carriers, and hence the plaitingblades carried thereby, so as to tip the latter in the manner hereinbefore set forth. When the studs reach the notches lO and 41, however, they can pass through the same, and the instant they have done this the coilsprings 4.4: and 45 will bring the respective carriers, and hence the plates carried thereby, to their horizontal positions, it being apparent, of course, that this tilting operation of the blades occurs in alternation. On the return or outer stroke of the slides the projections 4:8 and 49 by striking against the free ends of the springs 38 and 39 can retract the same, so that the slides can be freely returned to their outer positions.

It will be understood thatit will be necessary when the water-holders A and 5 and the blades 23 and 24 are adjusted toward or from each other, as the case may be, to adjust the size of the plait that it will be necessary at the same time to set the studs or bolts 48 and 49 inward or outward in correspondence therewith, so as to regulate the point at which the blades 23 and 24 are to be tilted.

A plate or straight-edge, as 50, is adapted to bear against the cloth as it unwinds from the roll 16 during plaiting, and this blade is held yieldingly in position by bowed springarms 51 and 52, suitably fastened to the opposite ends of said plate or straight-edge 50' and connected at their lower ends to the framework. The material plaited enters the space between the waterholders 4 and 5,

ling bar serves to properly regulate the de-.

scent of the plaitedmaterial and of course prevents the plaits from opening out, the plaits being held set by the hot-water holders 4: and 5, and the space between the same constitutes a heating device for this purpose. In some cases the water-holders may be dis pensed with and the plaited material inde pendently heated, and the same applies to other parts, which, if desired, may be omitted or changed, for as to these points of the invention we do not desire to limit ourselves,

as various changes may be adopted withinthe scope of'our claims. After the material has been plaited we may, if desired, press the same down by the presser-bar 60, the same having holes or perforations 61 and 62 upon its upper side to receive the books of thehandles 63 and 64. Byiusertingthe books of the handles in the holes and bearing down upon the handles the presser-bar can of course be lowered to properly compress the plaited material. The handles 63 and 64 have eyes adapted to receive a suitable bar, and when the proper degree of compression has been secured such bar will be inserted through the eyes of the handles and will be held down by pins 65 and 66, adapted to be inserted through alined holes in the side pieces 2 and 3 of the frame.

The improved machine is simple and efficient, and the plaiting-blades 23 and 24 by reason of their proximity to the hot-water holders 4 and 5 are heated, so as to serve as ironers, and thereby secure excellent work. In other words, the cloth is given an initial ironing before it passes between said waterholders.

The plaiting-blades can of course be operated to secure the .desired work, no matter which way the hand-crank 18 may be turned.

Having now described the invention, what we claim is l. A plaiting-machine including a pair of blades and carriers therefor mounted for reciprocatory and tilting movements, means for reciprocating the carriers to move the blades toward and from each other, springs connected with the carriers for tilting them in one direction, and means for tilting the carriers in the opposite direction whereby the springs will be placed under compression and for subsequently releasing said carriers whereby said springs can operate the same, the means for tilting the carriers being independent of the means that reciprocate said carriers.

2. A plaiting-machine including a pair of blades and carriers therefor mounted for reciprocatory and tilting movement, means for reciprocating the carriers to move the blades toward and from each other, springs con nected with the carriers for tilting them in one direction, means for tilting the carriers in the opposite direction whereby the springs will be placed under compression and for subsequently releasing said carriers whereby said springs can operate the same, the means for tilting the carriers being independent of the means that reciprocate said carriers, and a pair of receptacles adapted to contain a heating medium and separated from each other and the plaited material from the blades being adapted to pass between said receptacles.

3. A plaiting-machine including a pair of blades and carriers therefor mounted for reciprocatory and tilting movement, means for reciprocating the carriers to move the blades toward and from each other, springs connected with the carriers for tilting them in one direction, means for tilting the carriers in the opposite direction whereby the springs will be placed under compression and for subse quently releasing said carriers whereby said springs can operate the same, the means for tilting the carriers being independent of the means that reciprocate said carriers, a pair of receptacles adapted to contain a beating medium and separated from each other and the IIO ' &

plaited material from the blades being adapted to pass between said receptacles, and a feed-controlling device mounted between said receptacles and adapted to uphold the plaited material.

4. A plaiting-machine including a pair of plaiting-blades and carriers therefor, the carriers having extensions and the framework of the machine having elongated slots in which said extensions slide, means for engaging certain of the extensions to thereby reciprocate the carriers, springs connected with the carriers for tilting them in one direction, and independent means for tilting the carriers in the opposite direction whereby the springs will be put under compression and for subsequently releasing said carriers whereby the springs can 0 erate the same.

5. A plaiting-machine including a pair of plaiting-blades and carriers therefor, the carriers having extensions and the framework of the machine having elongated slots in which said extensions slide, cams for actuating certain of the extensions to reciprocate the carriers, springs connected with the carriers for tilting them in one direction, independent means for tilting the carriers in the opposite direction whereby the springs will be placed under compresssion and for subsequently releasing said carriers whereby the springs can operate the same, and means for heating the plaiting material.

6. In a plaiting-machine, a pair of carriers having plaiting-blades, means for reciprocating said carriers, arms connected with the respective carriers and provided with studs, spring-plates cooperative with the respective studs and having notches through which the same are adapted to pass, and springs connected with the said arms for tilting the carriers.

7. In a plaiting-machine, carriers having plaiting-blades, means for reciprocating said carriers, plates having horizontal flanges, upwardly and outwardly disposed diagonallydisposed spring-plates bearing at their free ends against said flanges and having notches, arms upon the carriers provided with studs cooperating with said spring-plates and coilsprings connected with the carriers for tilting the same.

8. A plaiting-machine including a pair of plaiting-blades and carriers therefor, the carriers having extensions and the framework of the machine having elongated slots in which said extensions slide, means'for engaging certain of the extensions to reciprocate the carriers, arms connected with the respective carriers and provided with studs, spring-plates cooperative with the respective studs and having notches through which the same are adapted to pass, and means for tilting the carriers.

9. In a plaiting-machine, a pair of carriers having plaiting-blades, means for reciprocating said carriers, arms connected with the respective carriers and provided with studs, spring-blades cooperative with the respective studs and having notches through which the same are adapted to pass, springs connected with the said arms for tilting the carriers, and means for heating the plaited material after it has been plaited by said blades.

10. In a plaiting-machine, a pair of receptacles for containing a heating medium and between which the plaited material is adapted to pass, a pair of carriers having plaitingblades arranged for movement above said receptacles, means for reciprocating said car: riers, arms connected with the respective carriers and provided with studs, plates secured to the outer faces of said receptacles and having flanges along their upper edges, springblades fastened at one end, the free ends of the blades bearing against said flanges, .and the blades having notches through which said studs are adapted to pass, and springs connected with the said arms for tilting the carriers.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. FINCl-I. WVILLIAM ORAYNE.

l/Vitnesses:

WM. H. WILSEY, O. W. TAYLOR. 

